Roller coating machine



Nov. 12, 1957 F. J. FLEISCHAUER 2,312,739

- ROLLER comma MACHINE Filed May 26, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. 7754 J i /s/lfichauer Nov. 12, 1957 F. J. FLEISCHAUER ROLLER COATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1954 INVENTOR. 729a F7el duer Nov. 12, 1957 F. J. FLEISCHAUER ROLLER COATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26 1954 INVENTOR. flea J 77/lscac/er- Nov. 12, 1957 F. J. FLEISCHAUER ROLLER COATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1954 Q d. M w z Md Gum Mum whw vww z /--i .l M \1 .wwm

W M KN Nov 12, 1957 F. J. FLEISCHAUER 2,812,739

ROLLER COATING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1954 INVENIOR. EM dfiz/lrcquer- KM elm-Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "ROLLER COATINGMACHINE Fred J. .Fleischauer, Pittsb nr gh, .Pa,, assigno r to Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May I26, .1954, Serial No. 432,482 15 Claims. ((11. 118 -248) This invention relates to a roller c'oatir'ig machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved rol-lerc'oa'ting machine particularly adapted for applying a viscous coating material to corrugated sheets in an ethcient, simple and economicalmanner. l r A further object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved roller coating machine of the "character" specified adapted to be adjusted to accommodate variations in the width of the corrugated sheets in a simple and efficient manner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the roller coating machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specii United States Paten 2,812,739 PatentedNov. 12, 1957 2 to all portions of the corrugated sheet. Provision is also made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention for supporting and maintaining the sheet infirm engagement with the applying roller -in a novel manner as the sheet is advanced through the machine and for maintaining the undersideof the sheet substantially free of the viscous coating during its passage throngh the machine.

I Referring now tothe drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 represents an elongated corrugated r'netal btiilding sheet tobe coated, and 12 represents a coating roller shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the corrugations of the sheet. The roller 12 is arranged to cooperate with a similarly "shaped doctor 1131115 and forms with the latter a trough into which a supply of the fviscous coating material 16 ,may be deposited. Briefly, in the operation of the coating machine the corrug'ated sheet IOrnay be placed on a roller conveyer 18 at the entrance, of left hand side of the machine, as viewed "in Fig. 2, and is advanced on the conveyer into operative engagement with the coating roller to receive the viscous coating n the upper surface of the sheetjas i't pass'es throngh the machine. As herein shown, the sheet is supported on its underside as it passes under the applying roller by two sets of buck-up rolls 20, 22 engageable in the crests of the corrugations, the sets of rolls being equally spaced on either si-de of a vertical center line passing through the applying roller.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the coating or appl ing roller 12 shaped to conform generally to the shape of the corrugated sheet is mounted to rotate with a shaft 24 and is constructed in a manner such as to permit adjust- Fig. 4. is a similar view of a coating roller and co operating buck-up rolls for applying a coating to another form of corrugated sheet; I p p r V ig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines- 5 orrig. 4; and p H p Fig. 6;is adetail view in crosssectionof a scraperuni't; In general the present invention contemplatesfa novel and improved rollertype coating machine particularly adapted for a'pplying viscous coatings or paints to irregil'. larshaped articles moved therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the article to be coatedcomprises. a corrugated building sheet to which a viscous weatherproof coating is applied. In the manufacture. or the corrugatedsheets the width of the corrugations and overall; width of the sheets may vary considerably so. that prior to the present invention difiiculty has been experienced in applying a uniform coating of the visqqus. material by means of a coating roller of a fixed shape conforming substantially to the shape of the corrugated sheet to be coated. p v v p In EICCOIdElIlCE WlilI the present invention thecoating roller conformign substantially to the shape of the; cor-Z rugated sheet may comprise a resilient material adapted to yield and accommodate itself to slight variationsin the width of the corrugations and overall width of the sheet, and; in addition, when considerable variation in the width of the sheet occurs novel provision is made for adjust;-'

ing the coating roller" and associated mechanism-101.com-

pensatc for such variations whereby to enable a substane tiallyuniform coating of the viscous material to'be' applied.

ment of the roller lengthwise of the shaft to enable itto conform to variations in the contour and overall width of the corrugated sheet. The illustrated roller is preferably made up ,of a plurality of individual roller sections 13, one corrugation wide, the outer circumferential surface being formed to fit the corrugated sheet and the end faces being flat to fit against the faces of adjacent sections to make up the roller. comprise a resilient material, preferably 1 a synthetic rubber or rubbe'rlike material and may take the form of a compact soft rubber, or a foam rubber provided.

with an irnperviotis arm a: synthetic rubber. In practice the roll sections may be molded, onto individual.

sleeves provided with internal keyways, the sleeves bef ing slidingly fitted on the shaft 24 in engagement with an elongated key 2l8 carri'ed by the shaft 24.

. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sleeves2 6 are shorter the roller sections 13 so that the end faces of the roller sections extend beyond the ends of the sleeves on both sides, and in practice the faces of adjacent roller sections may be cemented together to. form an integral roller unit As thus constructed, it will be seen that a substantial space is provided between the ends of the sleeves of, adjacent sections providing clearance to permit uniform sections" when pressure applied at the ends of the roller unit 12 herein" compres si-on of p the resilient shown, end, plates 32,

on t s f .ah1 e s sispfi h a pl ar llw ai n a is t ns n Btsnsains t r a ed. P.. .95 arranged to bear against the end of the shaft 12 are plates 32.

Thus itwil1 be se s that it; operation are; he aa tistg ing nuts 34 are-tightened the resilientroller se: ions are compressed, and when the nuts are loosened tit roller sections may expand, thusvarying the. shape. and overall width of the rollerunit, to accommodate variations in contour'and overall width of diiferenti corrugatedmay be provided withlopen'ings 38 for insertion of a tool. to facilitate rotation of the nuts: and compression of the rdller unitei;

sheets; As. illustrated; .the adjustingnutsy The roller sections 13 may The adjusting nuts may also be provided with set screws 40 for securing and maintaining the roller unit in its adjusted position. The elongated key 28 may be fast in the shaft 24, the keyways in the sleeves being formed so as to permit free sliding movement of'the sleeves along the key 28. The key 42 in'the end plate 32 may be fast in the end plate and free to slidein the shaft keyway. v i 1 It will be observed that the end plate 32 is provided with a beveled and recessed edge for cooperation with a similarly shaped end plate 44 carried by the doctor roll 14, the end plate 44 being also provided with an outer disk 46 overlapping the end plate 32. The cooperating end plates form a darn at each end of the trough formed between the cooperating rolls 12, 14 to retain the coating material in the trough. The doctor roll 14 may and preferably will be constructed in the same manner and of the same materials as the coating roller 12, the roll 14 being shaped to'fit into the corrugated contour of the coating roller. Thus in operation when the coating roller 12 is adjusted to conform to the shape of the corrugated sheet, the doctor roll 14 may also be adjusted to fit the coating roller in a similar manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 24 is rotatably and adjustably supported in bearing members 48 attached to parallel adjusting screw devices indicated at 50, 52 connected for parallel adjustment by shafts 54, 56, coupling 58 and bevel gear units 60, 62. Adjustment may be effected by a hand Wheel 64 fast on a shaft 66 connected to one of the bevel gear units, and individual adjustment may be effected by disconnecting the couplin 58. The doctor roll 14 is carried on a shaft 63 rotatably mounted in bearings 70 slidingly supported in adjusting brackets 72, see Fig. 2, attached to the machine frame and is arranged to be driven from the coating roller 12 by intermeshing spur gears 74, 76 as illustrated.

The coating roller 12 may and preferably will be rotated in a direction so that the engaging surface of the roller travels in the direction of movement of the sheet being coated. The driving mechanism may include a chain and sprocket drive 80 connected to a variable speed motor 82 and gear reduction unit 84 arranged to rotate the coating roller at an average surface speed substantially equal to the linear speed of advance of the sheet. Since the applying roller 12 is corrugated in shape the surface speed at the ridges of the roller is greater than the surface speed at the troughs of the roller so that the surface speed of the applying roller at any point depends on the radius of the roller at that point. Inpractice it is preferred to adjust the speed of the applying roller so that the surface speed at the radius substantially midway between the radius at the troughs and the radius at the ridges is equal to the linear speed of the advancing sheet, although speeds slightly faster or slower than such preferred speed may be used.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the buck-up rolls 20, 22 may comprise chrome plated metal disks or relatively narrow rolls supported on spaced shafts 90, 92. The rolls are spaced on their supporting shafts substantially one corrugation apart and are rounded at their peripheries to fit into the underside of the rounded crests of the corrugations of the sheet being coated. Each roll is provided with a keyway and is arranged to be slidingly fitted over an elongated key 94 carried by the shaft. The buck-up rolls are adjustably maintained in spaced relation by spacing sleeves 96 and by resilient rings 98, such as synthetic rubber rings disposed between the ends of the spacing sleeves and the buck-up rolls. The sleeves 96 may also be provided with keyways and are slidingly fitted over the elongated key 94. The resilient rings 98 may be recessed on one side to fit over the adjacent end of the spacing sleeve, as shown, and the inside openin f the rings are of greater diameter than the shaft so as to provide an annular space between the shaft and the ring for expansion of the ring when compressed.

- Wardly inclined marginal end lips.

are freely rotatable on the extended hub portions 100.

The buck-up rolls 21, 23 at each end of their supporting shaft 90, 92 are provided with extended hub portions 100 upon which hardened steel rolls 102 are rotatably mounted. The end rolls 102 are arranged to engage and support the underside of the marginal edge or lip portions of the corrugated sheet, the periphery of the end rolls being beveled to fit along the underside of the down- The end rolls 102 and are provided with an internal groove 104 for retaining a lubricant so that in operation the rolls may be frictionally rotated by engagement with the marginal edges of the sheet as it is advanced through the machine. Adjusting nuts 106 engaging threaded portions 108 of the shafts 90, 92 are arranged to bear against the outer ends of the hub portions 100, the width of the end rolls 102 being less than the length of the hub portion to permit free rotation of the end rolls on the hub, as described.

Thus it will be seen that in operation when the adjust-' ing nuts 106 are tightened the resilient rings 98 between adjacent buck-up rolls and spacing sleeves are compressed, v

and when the nuts are loosened the resilient rings may expand, thus varying the distance between adjacent buckup rolls to accommodate variations in different corrugated sheets to align the rolls with the underside of the crests of adjacent corrugations, such adjustment corresponding to the adjustments of the coating roller 12 and doctor roll 14. The adjusting nuts 106 may also be provided with openings to facilitate rotation of the nuts and compression of the resilient rings 93 of the buck-up roll units 20, 22 and are also provided with set screws 107 for securing and maintaining the roller units in their adjusted position. The buck-up rolls 2t), 22 may also be rotated through the chain and sprocket drive 80, as indicated in Fig. l, to asssist in feeding the sheet through the machine.

In the operation of the coating machine as thusfar described, the coating roller 12 is first adjusted relative to the corrugated sheet 10, and the viscous coating material, such as paint 16, is then poured into the trough between the doctor roll 14 and the applying roller 12, and the doctor roll may then be adjusted relative to the applying roll to control the amount of paint to be applied to the sheet. The corrugated sheet is fed into the machine on the roller conveyer 18 and is advanced into the machine by the conveyer rollers 19 which may be rotated from the main drive through intermeshing spur gears 110, 112 and chain and sprocket drive 114. Successive conveyer rolls 19 may be connected by individual chain and sprocket drives 116, 118, as indicated in Fig. 2. The exit conveyer rolls 27 may be similarly driven through spur gear connections 112, and chain and sprocket drives 122, 124, as indicated in Fig. 2. In practice all of the rolls are preferably driven at the same surface speed to advance the sheet through the machine.

It will be observed that the corrugated sheet is preferably supported along the underside of the crests of the corrugations to provide a relatively firm and rigid support for the sheet and to render the sheet capable of withstanding the relatively great pressure of the coating roller against the sheet which is required for the successful application of viscous coating materials without distortion of the sheet as it passes through the machine. It will also be observed that the hardened metal end rolls 102 are freely rotatable so as to avoid scratching or marring of the marginal edges of the sheet as it is advanced by the driven buck-up rolls 20, 22. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a catch-all receptacle 109 may be supported beneath the coating mechanism to collect any paint which may drip from the coating roller or from adjacent'por' tions of the machine.

As illustrated, the buck-up rolls 20, 22 are preferably spaced apart equidistantly on either side of the applythereon bydrippings from the applying roller when there is no sheet be'tween the rollsand so that such drippings will not be transferred to the-underside of a suceeeding sheet passed over, the buck-up rolls. In practice the forward end of the, sheet firstengages-buch-up rolls 20 which advances the sheet into operative engagement with the coating roller 12 wherenpon the sheet is advanced onto brick-up rolls In operation when the forward edge of the sheetpasses beyond buck-up rolls 20 and under the pplying ireller'but has not yet advanced onto buck-up rolls 22, the pressure pf the applying roller 12 may tend to rock the forw ard edge ,of the sheet downwardly using buck-up rolls it) as a fuicrum. Unless the sheet is of suiiicient length and 'ght to counteract this tendency an insufrieient coating pressure .is applied, and as a result an nnsatisfact'orylceating 9f paint may be applied to thef orward edge of the sheet. In order to prevent this occurrence the bach end of the sheet may be held down ,bya hold-downroll 126 rotatably sup ported above the sheet, as shown in Fig. 2. When the forward end of the sheet passes onto huck-up rolls 22 the sheet will be balaneed so that uniform pressure of the applying roll aga f fit the sheet is maintained. However, when the trailing end ef the sheet passes oif buclup rolls 20 the trail end of the sheet inay tend to be rocked downwardly in a similar mannerl Such rocking of the trailing end of the sheet may be overcome by holding down 'the forward end of the sheet magnetically. As shown in Fig. 2 permanent magnet assemblies 128 may be supported between conveyer rails and in a position in alignment with theridges on the underside of the corrugated sheet, as shown. a

When the forward edge of a sheet being coated approaches the applying roller lgtheedge actually butts into the applying roller which may cause some paint to be applied to the front edge of the sheet as well as to the top surface, and in practice sufiicient drops of paint may accumulate so that when the front edge of the sheet meets buck-up rolls 22 a small amount of the paint may eds o on the ch me Plat d ur a es of t rolls 2- .Such d1iii$ a a s be s milar collected y the trailing end of the sheet and transferred to the buckrolls, In orderto avoid transfer of sueh deposits of painthfrorn the buck-up rolls to the underside of the sheet a plurality of scrapers 13d are provided for cooperation with the buck-upr Ils and whieh may be held firmly against the polished chrome surfaces of the buck-up rolls to remove such excess paint. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, each scraper may comprise a relatively thin blade 132 clamped in an arm 134pivotally mounted on a shaft i156 supported in bearings 138 attached to the machine frame.

The arm 1 34 maybe held firmly against the buck-up roll by an adjusting screw l ihcarried by a bracket 142, as shown in Figf6. While the scrapers 139 are herein shown in engagement with the buck-up rolls 22, similar serapers may and preferably will be employed for the buck-up rolls 2i) and alsofor the end plate disks 32, 44 and 46.

It will be seen that the roller coating machine illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is particularly adapted for applying a coating of viscous material to a conventional shape of corrugated sheet having rounded or arcuate crests and troughs and that the buck-up rolls 2%, 22 are rounded at their peripheries and are arranged to be yieldingly or resiliently adjusted lengthwise of the supporting shaft to conform to variations in contour and overall width of the sheet.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of roller coating machine embodying the present invention is adapted to apply a coating of viscous material to a different type of corrugated building sheet, indicated at 200, wherein the crests and the troughs are relatively fiat and are connected by inclined side Walls, as illustrated. In the modified form of the machine, the coat- 113g roller 2G2 and the doctor roll 20-4 may be similar s s ns r st riand m y qmp ise s n he i r bber s dtions 205 onecorrugatiqn wide and shaped to {fit into the corrngationsof the' sheet 260. As shown in Fig. 4, the sections 205 maybe mounted on sleeves 206 which are slidingly received on a shaft 208 having an elongated key 210;, the sleeves 296 being shorter than the width of the sections to permit icornpression thereof. Adjacent faces of the resilient sections may be cemented together, and copperatingend plates 212 may be provided forming a dam at a h e d of th t o h Adj nuts 214. are arranged to bear against the end plates to effect adjustment of the rcillers for variations in contour and overall width of the Corrugated sheets.

As shown in 'Fig. 4, thebuck-up rolls 216 in the modified form of the invention may comprise relatively narrow chrome plated diskshaving a fiat periphery arranged to bear against the underside of the relatively wider crest portions of the corrugated sheet. The disks or rolls 216 may be secured to the supporting shaft 218 by an elongated key 220 and may be provided with set screws 222 for initially positioning the disksin spaced relation and in an intermediate position relative to the individual flat crest portions. With this construction it will be seen that no adjustment of the buck-up rolls 216 is required when the coating roller 2!) 2 and the doctor roll 204 are adjusted to conform to variations in width of the corrugated sheet since the flat edges of the relative] narrow disks may engage diiferent portions of the at underside of the wider erest portions when the sheet varies in. width.

From the above description it will be seen that the present roiler coating machine is provided with a resilient and adjustablymounted eoating roller for applying viscous coating material to corrugated sheets in a simple and efficient manner, the resilient characteristics of the coating roller enabling the sameto accommodate itself to slight variations in contonr andoverall width of successive sheets whereby to malntainfsubstantially uniform contact with all portions 9f the corrugated surfaces despite such varia tions It will also he observed that when considerable variation in contour and overall width of the sheets existshe .cqat n 'l erand as a d d t a u k-up s.

re ap eq ad u t en in mpl a d pid m nn t conform to such variations. In the operation of the machine with viseous coating materials the present coating roller will deposita coating which has a distinct feathered or ribbed pattern which is particularly desirable in a weatherproofing coating applied to a corrugated metal building sheet. Alternatively, if a coating material of a somewhat reduced viscosity is used, the paint or other coating material will spread on the sheet to form a uniform coating, Although the present deseription relates particularly to roller eoating of a corrugated sheet it will be apparent that sheets of other cross-sectional shapes may be coated in a similar manner. A

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In roller coating machine for coating elongated sheets having a plurality of longitudinal corrugations, in combination, means for supporting and advancing said corrugated sheet; a coating roller having a plurality of successively raised and recessed portions to substantially fit the corrugations of the sheet, said roller comprising a plurality of adjacent sections of relatively soft resilient rubber-like material, each of said sections being of a width corresponding to the width of one corrugation of said sheet, said roller being mounted to rotate in engagement with the corrugations as the sheet is advanced and being capable of deforming under the pressure of the coating operation so, as to conform closely to differences between the normal shape of the roller'and the size of the corrugationsg and, a. similarly constructed doctor roller coop mating with said coating roller and forming therewith a trough for holding a supply of the coating material.

2. In a roller coating machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and advancing an elongated corrugated sheet, a coating roller comprising a relatively soft resilient rubberlike material shaped to substantially fit the corrugations of the sheet and mounted to rotate in engagement with the corrugations as the sheet is advanced, said rubberlike coating roller being capable of deforming under the pressure of the coating operation so as to conform to differences between the normal shape of the roller and the size of the corrugations, and a similarly constructed doctor roller cooperating with said coating roller and forming therewith a trough for holding a supply of the coating material, said relatively soft rubberlike coating roller being adapted to yield to conform to slight variations in the contour and overall width of the corrugated sheet, and means for adjustably and uniformly deforming said resilient coating roller to vary the contour and overall length of the roller to conform to variations in contour and overall width of said sheet, whereby to effect application of a substantially uniform coating to said sheet.

3. In a roller coating machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and advancing an elongated corrugated sheet, a coating roller comprising a relatively soft resilient rubberlike material shaped to substantially fit the corrugations of the sheet and mounted to rotate in engagement with the corrugations as the sheet is advanced, said rubberlike coating roller being capable of deforming under the pressure of the coating operation so as to conform to differences between the normal shape of the roller and the size of the corrugations, and a similarly constructed doctor roller cooperating with said coating roller and forming therewith a trough for holding a supply of the coating material, said relatively soft rubberlike coating roller being adapted to yield to conform to slight variations in the contour and overall width of the corrugated sheet, and means for adjustably and uniformly deforming said resilient coating roller to vary the contour and overall length of the roller to conform to variations in contour and overall width of said sheet whereby to effect application of a substantially uniform coating to said sheet, said supporting and advancing means comprising a plurality of driven rollers engageable with the underside of the crests of said corrugations whereby to render the sheet capable of withstanding the pressure of the coating roller without distortion of the sheet. I V

4. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the relatively soft resilient rubberlike doctor roller is also provided with means for uniformly deforming the same to vary the contour and overall length of the roller to conform to the shape of the coating roller.

5. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the supporting and advancing rollers are mounted to be capable of being resiliently adjusted to conform to the variations in the width of the corrugations of said sheet.

6. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 3 where in the supporting and advancing means includes a pair of freely rotatable rolls engageable with the inclined marginal edges of the sheet.

7. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the relatively soft resilient rubberlike doctor roller is also provided with means for uniformly deforming the same to vary the contour and overall length of the roller to conform to the shape of the coating roller, and wherein the coating roller and doctor roller are formed in sections of a Width corresponding to one corrugation, the faces of adjacent sections being cemented together to form unitary rollers shaped to correspond to the corrugations of the sheet.

I 8. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the relatively soft resilient rubberlike doctor roller is also provided with means for uniformly deforming the same to vary the contour and overall length of the roller to conform to the shape of the coating roller, said coating roller and doctor roller being formed in sections of a width corresponding to one corrugation, the faces of adjacent sections being cemented together to form unitary rollers shaped to correspond to the corrugations of the sheet, and wherein the roller sections are mounted on sleeves shorter in length than the sections, the ends of the sections extending beyond the ends of the sleeves, a shaft on which said sleeves are mounted, and adjustable members on said shaft arranged to bear and apply pressure against the ends of the assembled roller to effect said deformation, the space between the ends of adjacent sleeves permitting uniform deformation of the assembled roller when said members are adjusted.

9. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the supporting rolls are mounted on a shaft, spacing sleeves between adjacent supporting rolls, annular resilient members disposed between the ends of the sleeves and the supporting rolls, and adjustable members mounted on said shaft and arranged to bear and apply pressure against the ends of the assembled rolls whereby to effect resilient and uniform adjustment of said rolls to conform to variations in the width of the corrugations of the sheet.

10. In a roller coating machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and advancing an elongated corrugated sheet to be coated with a viscous coating material, a coating roller comprising a relatively soft resilient rubberlike material shaped to substantially fit into the corrugations of the sheet, said rubberlike coating roller being capable of deforming under the pressure of the coating operation so as to conform to differences between the normal shape of the roller and the size of the corrugations, a similarly shaped doctor roller cooperating with the coating roller and forming therewith a trough for holding a supply of the viscous coating material, each of said rollers having overlapping end plates defining the ends of said trough, means for adjusting the doctor roller relative to the coating roller to control the thickness of coating to be applied, means for adjusting the pressure of the coating roller relative to the surface of the corrugated sheet, said relatively soft resilient rubberlike coating roller being adapted to yield in engagement with the sheet to efiect application of a substantially uniform coating of said viscous material to said corrugated surface, said supporting and advancing means including a plurality of rolls engageable with the under side of the crests of the corrugations, and means for adjusting said supporting rolls, doctor roller and coating roller to compensate for variations in contour and overall width of said corrugated sheets.

11. In a roller coating machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and advancing an elongated corrugated sheet to be coated with a viscous coating material, a coating roller comprising a relatively soft resilient rubberlike material shaped to substantially fit into the corrugations of the sheet, said rubberlike coating roller being capable of deforming under the pressure of the coating operation so as to conform to differences between the normal shape of the roller and the size of the corrugations, a similarly shaped doctor roller cooperating with the coating roller and forming therewith a trough for holding a supply of the viscous coating material, each of said rollers having overlapping end plates defining the ends of said trough, means for adjusting the doctor roller relative to the coating roller to control the thickness of coating to be applied, means for adjusting the pressure of the coating roller relative to the surface of the corrugated sheet, said relatively soft resilient rubberlike coating roller being adapted to yield in engagement with the sheet to effect application of a substantially uniform coating of said viscous material to said corrugated surface, said supporting and advancing means including a plurality of rolls engageable with the underside of the crests of the corruga-.

tions, and means for adjusting said supporting rolls, docof the corrugation, the sets being disposed in equally spaced offset relation to said applying roller to permit any coating material dripping from the coating roller after the sheet has passed through the machine to pass between and out of contact with said supporting rolls.

12. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 11v wherein at least one set of supporting rolls is provided with scrapers for removing any coating material which may be deposited on said rolls whereby to prevent transfer of the coating material to the underside of a sheet.

13. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 10 wherein the engaging surface of the coating roller is ro tated in the direction of movement of the sheet and at an average speed substantially equal to the lineal speed of the sheet being advanced.

14. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for preventing rocking of the sheet when engaged by the coating roller while the sheet is being supported by one only of said supporting rolls, including a roller engageable with the upper surface of the sheet being advanced through the machine.

15. A roller coating machine as defined in claim 11 wherein provision is made for preventing rocking of the sheet when engaged by the coating roller while the sheet is being supported by one only of said supporting rolls including a plurality of magnets disposed with relation to the underside of the sheet to hold the same down as it is being advanced through the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,572 Brock May 10, 1892 1,175,578 Adams Mar. 14, 1916 1,345,719 Vavra July 6, 1920 2,369,378 Thiele et a1 Feb. 13, 1945 

